Eli & Mari Short Story

A short featuring Mari and Eli, two of the ROs who are gender selectable. This story features F!Mari and M!Eli.

“This is wrong.”

“Piss off, Eli.”

“This is wrong, Mari!” He bursts out, watching the girl’s face shutter and become cold, “Please, listen-“

“I thought I said piss off?” She sneers, “You act so high and mighty, but you don’t know anything.”

“I know going on some crusade isn’t the right way to handle your grief.” He says firmly, “Marion, what happened to your parents was awful-“

“Don’t.” She says quietly, dangerously, “Do not talk about my parents.”

“You’re fifteen and going to land yourself in prison. Is that what they would’ve wanted?”

She looks down at him, lips pulled back in a snarl, “Well I know for a fact they didn’t want to be shot in the head. So I’ll repay the favor and gut Hendrick while I’m at it.”

“You can’t beat him.” Elias presses, “He’s got all of Norwick under his thumb. The guard could help you-“

“The guard doesn’t do shit except arrest poor people for stealing food and patting the rich fucks who robbed them on the back.” She snaps, “Get your head out of your ass, Eli.”

“I don’t want to be your enemy, Marion.” He pleads.

“Then don’t be and stay the hell out of my way.” She shoves past him, “I don’t need your help, anyways.”

“Mari!” He shouts after her, “If you go down this road, that’s it. I can’t…I won’t be friends with a criminal. Not when I’m joining the guard.”

“We’ll, that ties this up nicely then, hm?” She says, not looking back at him, “Good luck with life, Eli.”

He clenches his fists, watching her go. Fifteen is too young to lose his best friend. Fifteen is too young for her to end up at the bottom of the bay.

His heart aches. He can’t change her mind, he knows that, but he wishes fiercely that he could.